Notice anything different in this picture? That’s Sarah in the bed and Catherine in the wheelchair! Yep. She got out of bed today and sat in a reclined position in a hospital wheelchair. The goal was 30 minutes and she stayed in the chair nearly an hour! Great job Catherine!!

In fact she did such a great job today that they moved us to the regular floor. Yep again! She’s out of the ICU hanging out in the ortho rehab area of the hospital. We expect to be here about five days. She’ll get PT 2x/day. We will learn how to move her carefully and rehab at home and they will watch her wound. So far, it looks great!

It’s nearly impossible to believe nine days ago we were dealing with a life-threatening reaction in the OR. In some ways memory is kind and I barely remember it. Though the tears and stress from it hover mere millimeters under the surface. I actually think its a blessing that I didn’t realize how sick she was and how miraculous her recovery has been.

Tonight I sit in a new room with her. It’s probably odd to try to understand how the transition to a regular floor can be so hard. Of course it’s exciting and means we are closer to coming home. Like anything though, we developed routines and comforts in the ICU and it feels a little like the net is gone. Reality is that Catherine doesn’t need that net any more. She’s flying high on her own and it’s mostly me that feels the need for a net. By the time tomorrow comes with its new sunlight to break into our new purple room, I probably will be past my need for the net as well. Let’s hope so. And by the way, God. Thanks for giving us a nurse our first night that we had years ago when Catherine had her hip surgery. I’m thinking she can pull out that net pretty fast if we do need it. I’ll go to sleep resting in that confidence.

Catherine still has a tube in her nose so I took a profile shot so you can see how great she looks! When we get rid of the ND tube we can have a full photo shoot so you can really see how well she’s doing. Plan is to start nutrition in a couple of hours assuming she keeps breathing well. Fly Catherine fly!!!

We’re trying to get Catherine off the ventilator today. She’s not breathing as consistently as she needs to so it’s taking longer than I hoped. It’s amazing to me what a frustrating cycle this creates in me. Maybe her, too. I really want to get her off though because I saw Dr Miller get quite concerned with how little nutrition she’s had and the effect that will have on wound healing. So now I have something new to think about. And we really need her off the vent so she can get some nutrition. Anyone popping in to read today – prayers for breath would be good.

Your sister is in the very best hands in the world – literally. I thought you would like to see a photo of them wheeling her toward the OR. They took her in at 11:01 and we will let you know when she is out with a super straight spine. Everyone here thinks you are amazing and the best sister in the world to Catherine. Couldn’t agree more Little Bear! We love you!!!!

I have found the way doctors round to be amusing. They all stand behind mobile computer stands that look a little like segweys to me. We can’t even see the doctors’ faces most of the time. The first day I asked them about it and they turned the screens. Today they seemed to have forgotten all that. It’s a wall of talking monitors 🙂

Dr Miller decided to close early because Catherine’s blood pressure dropped too low. She is fine now after some meds to bring it back up and she is heading to the ICU. They will spend the weekend investigating why it dropped as they do not have a clear reason now which is why he decided to close. He was about 1/3rd through the procedure. He is tentatively thinking he would try again Tues or Wed.

I know this is difficult to read. And I am keeping it short as we are heading to ICU. Will let you know more when we do. Until then – please see the title of the blog. Aptly named 🙂

Hi, I’m Ellen

I’m just a mom making my way, but my way is a little different. And yet, very much the same. I have a 13-year-old daughter, Catherine, who was born at 25 weeks and weighed one pound, nine ounces. Despite a very severe brain bleed, she lived and inspires me every day with all she works so hard to do... Read More…